How to go → DA NANG + HOI AN to SAPA? ☀️

1. Train – Da Nang to Sapa
2. Bus – Hoi An to Sapa
3. Flight + Bus to Sapa
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From Da Nang or Hoi An to Sapa you can travel by train, bus or plane.

• • The travel distance from Da Nang and Hoi An to Sapa spans approximately 1150 km by land, assuming you opt for train or bus travel. For those preferring the scenic route, you can travel by train from Da Nang to Lao Cai, situated approximately 35 km from Sapa, via Hanoi. This route offers a variety of trains, including luxury tourist options, with a travel time of about 25-30 hours. Once in Lao Cai, you can hop on a local public bus to reach Sapa. Alternatively, you can opt for a tourist bus via Hanoi, although it may sacrifice comfort for affordability.
  • The most efficient and expedient method to reach Sapa from Hoi An or Da Nang in central Vietnam is by plane. Take a direct flight from Da Nang to Hanoi (approximately 1.5 hours), followed by a bus journey to Sapa (5-7 hours). You can easily book and purchase e-tickets or flights online from Da Nang/Hoi An to Sapa. From Sapa, you can further explore neighboring destinations such as Ha Giang, or return to Hanoi or Ninh Binh via bus, train + bus, or private car.

BOOK TICKETS to Sapa on Baolau ➜

Sapa in Lao Cai – a top tourist destination in northern Vietnam.

• • Traveling from Da Nang or Hoi An to Sapa in Lao Cai province entails a substantial journey from central to northern Vietnam. Sapa, renowned as a top tourist destination in the region, welcomes countless visitors daily. It’s an excellent choice for those interested in experiencing homestays in various surrounding villages. Sapa offers a plethora of activities, particularly trekking and homestays, catering to adventure travelers. Moreover, it serves as a launching point for those seeking to conquer Vietnam’s highest peak, Fansipan. Explore the diverse transportation options available from Da Nang or Hoi An to Sapa to plan your journey accordingly.

BOOK TICKETS to Sapa on 12go.asia ➜

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How do I get from Da Nang + Hoi An to Sapa?

1. Train + Bus from Da Nang to Sapa (via Hanoi)

A) Train from Da Nang to Lao Cai (via Hanoi)

Traveling by train and bus from Da Nang to Sapa via the cities of Hanoi and Lao Cai can be a suitable choice for most solo and low-cost travelers. There is no direct train from Da Nang to Lao Cai (which is the nearest train station at Sapa, about 30 km from the city), you have to use the train connection from Da Nang to Hanoi and from there take another train to Lao Cai.

This option therefore has 2 steps and the 3rd step is the journey from Lao Cai to Sapa, for example by bus or private taxi. Be aware that this mode of transport will take a lot of time, the train journey from Da Nang to Lao Cai with a transfer in Hanoi can take up to 25-30 hours. So it is definitely best to choose sleeping beds on the trains, both from Da Nang to Hanoi and from Hanoi to Lao Cai (there are also tourist luxury sleeper trains on the routes), you probably won’t want to sit for such a long time.

A sleeper berths in the trains are of course more expensive than a regular 2nd class seats, a train trip from Da Nang to Lao Cai can cost you about $35-100/person (seats or sleepers in cabins), depending on the type of train you choose. Some of the tourist sleeper trains on these routes are Violette Train, Livitrans Express, Laman Express, Lotus Train, Damitrans, King Express, Fanxipan Express and others.

These tourist trains offer comfortable sleeping beds and are mainly used by foreign tourists who want to experience traveling in Vietnam by train. The most popular are tourist sleeper trains from Hanoi to Sapa-Lao Cai. For these train services, you need to purchase a separate ticket from Da Nang to Hanoi and another ticket from Hanoi to Lao Cai. You can find and buy tickets online even in advance, read all the instructions when ordering tickets.

• • Book train tickets from Da Nang to Hanoi + Lao Cai online on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜

B) Bus or taxi from Lao Cai to Sapa town

After you arrive in Lao Cai by train, you need to use another option of transportation to Sapa city, either a local public bus or private minivans or other cars. Lao Cai is a border town and is located approx. 3 km from China. Public bus is the cheapest option of transportation from Lao Cai to Sapa city and tickets cost on average up to $2.00/person, private minivans or taxis are of course more expensive options.

Private minivans from Lao Cai to Sapa can cost from $4-10/person and private taxis average $30-50/car. Transportation by bus or car from Lao Cai to the city of Sapa takes approximately 1-1.5 hours and you will drive along an interesting mountain road. Public buses run throughout the day, roughly at hourly intervals, and they also run in the morning, when the night trains from Hanoi arrive. You can also use buses or private cars on the way back to Lao Cai train station.

• • You can book bus tickets from Lao Cai to Sapa on Baolau ➜

2. Bus from Da Nang / Hoi An to Sapa (via Hanoi)

A) BUS from Hoi An (or Da Nang) to Hanoi

Another low-cost way to travel from Hoi An or Da Nang to Sapa is to use tourist buses or minibuses. This transport option has 2 steps, by bus from Da Nang / Hoi An to Hanoi and from Hanoi to Sapa by another bus connection, there is no direct connection. There are sleeper buses from Da Nang to Hanoi and the journey takes approximately 14-18 hours, depending on the type of bus and the company you choose.

Various companies operate on the route between Hoi An and Hanoi, such as Techbus VN, Futabus, Queen Cafe, An Phu Hoi An Travel, Cocovip, Greentips, Duy Khanh, To Vietnam Travel or Hanh Cafe, and bus tickets range from $20-50 /per person, depends on the type of bus.

The vast majority of buses are equipped with sleeping berths and some buses are very modern and offer perfect comfort. Buses leave from different locations in Da Nang and Hoi An and you will always see this information before ordering tickets, i.e. read any additional instructions that apply to the transfer.

B) BUS / VAN from Hanoi to Sapa

The next step is to travel by bus or minibus from Hanoi to Sapa. It is an ideal option for those who want to avoid the long train transfer through Lao Cai city. On the route to Sapa and back, there are a number of different sleeper and seater modern and luxury buses, as well as comfortable and convenient minibuses with reclining seats.

Make sure you choose the right connection, as the bus timetables from Hanoi to Sapa are long and the buses run all day and night. Some of the transport companies that offer bus services are Hason Haivan, InterBus Lines, Eco Sapa, Grouptour, Sapa Express, GoodMorning Sapa, Hung Thanh, Dragon Express, but there are many more.

The bus ride from Hanoi to Sapa takes approximately 5.5-6 hours and bus tickets cost an average of $6-20/person, depending on the type of bus or minivan you choose. Buses leave from various places in Hanoi and in Sapa they can arrive directly in front of some hotels, you will see this information before ordering tickets, read it carefully.

Most bus companie from Hanoi to Sapa also accept mobile bus tickets as e-tickets, but there may be exceptions, again you will see this information before booking tickets.

3. FLIGHT + BUS from Da Nang to Sapa (via Hanoi)

A) FLIGHT from Da Nang to Hanoi

The fastest and most convenient way to get from Hanoi to Sapa is by air and bus via Hanoi. Sapa city does not have an airport, Lao Cai airport should be opened in the future, but you can use direct flights from Da Nang to Hanoi (Noi Bai airport) and from Noi Bai airport you can take a bus connection (or private car) to Sapa.

Direct flights from Da Nang to Hanoi take about 1.5 hours, cost on average from $50-150/per person and are operated by VietJet Air, Vietravel Airlines, Hanh Air Systems, Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways. Most of these Vietnam airlines are well rated by travelers. It is the fastest and most convenient way to get to Hanoi from central Vietnam.

Most of the dirct flights to Hanoi – Noi Bai Airport from Da Nang International Airport are Economy Class, so sometimes even these flights can be very cheap. Da Nang Airport is easily accessible from the city center, it is only 3 km away and you can get here by shuttle bus, public bus or private transfers.

• • Book direct flight from Da Nang to Hanoi on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜

B) BUS/VAN from Hanoi – Noi Bai Airport to Sapa

The next step is to travel by bus or minibus, or by private car from Noi Bai Airport to the city of Sapa. Again, this is a used travel route and is suitable for those who want to avoid Hanoi and go straight to Sapa. Several private transport companies operate on the route and they mostly offer tourist sleeper buses or comfortable and faster minibuses.

Travel time from Noi Bai Airport to Sapa is approximately 5-7 hours depending on the type of bus and company, and tickets cost approximately $10 to $18 per person. Some of the bus companies that operate from Noi Bai Airport to Sapa are Sapa Ethnic Travel, Daiichi Travel, Techbus VN, Inter Bus Lines, Grouptour, and Luxury Van Limousine.

Most buses or small minibuses or minivans are comfortable, modern and well-maintained and offer a mostly trouble-free ride, but they may not be comfortable for everyone, so you may need to use a minibus. You can find and book bus tickets from Noi Bai Airport to Sapa online even in advance.

• • Book bus tickets or car from Noi Bai Airport to Sapa on 12go.asia ➜

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📍 Sapa – Tourist map + What to see:

❓ FAQ + TIPS – Travel from Da Nang + Hoi An to Sapa:

BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Sapa ➜

BOOK your HOTEL in Sapa ➜

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🎫 Book your tickets from Da Nang/Hoi An to Sapa + Schedule:

(You can change your route, eg. Hoi An > Da Nang, Da Nang > Hanoi, Hanoi > Sapa…)

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